HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR CHILD'S MENTAL HEALTH DURING THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC

Mental health experts tell WAAY 31 parents should try to reduce their children's stress by maintaining a daily routine and participating in fun activities, like playing outside.

A year.

Mental health experts say children may start feeling stressed from being home for so long.

Waay 31's casey albritton spoke to a mental health professional and learned what activities you should be doing with your kids during this pandemic.

"mental health experts here at wellstone tell me parents should try to reduce their children's stress by maintaining a daily routine and participating in fun activities, like playing outside."

Jeanne ackerman/ parent "there have definitely been some ups and downs, but we've been trying to make the most of, we've overall had good weather."

Jeanne ackerman's been doing her best to keep her eight year old insert name busy.

Mainly by playing outside as much as they can.

"being outside has been super helpful.

It has been an adjustment for him."

She says being stuck in the house during the coronavirus pandemic has been difficult.

"he misses his friends at school and he's an only child so, he's not having kid interaction.

So that's been probably the hardest part."

Ackerman isn't the only one who has seen how being couped up can impact a child.

Sally marsh/ children's ministry director at st.

Johns episcopal church "my two grandchildren who are two and one year old, they live with us, and even those two are just going nuts."

Mental health professionals at wellstone say you can help your child be doing these three things: keep them on a routine....make sure they are physically active... and connect with friends and family over the internet.

"they're stuck inside, they can't socialize with their families so they are doing it on zoom or facebook."

In addition... it's important to make sure kids are eating right and sleeping well.

If you do start to notice mood swings or excessive sadness -- seek help.

Meanwhile... sally marsh, is setting up easter egg hunts for children at her church- and ackerman is making sure her son is getting the exercise he needs.

"i wanted to make sure that they physically had to do where we could still make that connection with the children of our parish."

"just stick to a routine, and take it one day at a time basically."

Mental health professionals say now could also be a good time to expose kids to new activities they haven't tried before, like a sport or art craft.

Reporting in huntsville, casey albritton, waay 31 news.

Experts say if children are stressed, parents can also sit down have have an open conversation about